Adaptive Response Strategy of Farmers to Changing Rainfall Averages in Parts of South-Eastern Nigeria

The variable and changing nature of the annual rainfall regime in the study area poses the main problem for which planet responses are needed. The study is conducted with an estimated population of six thousand (6000) food croppers from Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Three thousand (3000) respondent farmers are then drawn from six (6) agro-ecological zones, two from each of the sample states at five hundred (500) respondents per zone. Two hundred and fifty (250) farming households and finally sampled from the zones resulting in the one thousand five hundred (1500) sample that the study is based. Statistical evidence indicates that the awareness level of the peasants to the issue is significant at the 95% level of confidence. The main response strategies from analysis include the application of chemical fertilizers, the use of crop verities and changing the time of farming. The main change stimuli, however are higher annual intensities and declines in the duration. Response strategies however vary significantly across the study space at 95% probability. Cross River State, the more vulnerable to the threat is suggested to be the source of the significant variation following the Scheffe Post HOC analysis. Keywords: climate change response stimuli, response strategy, reactive response

Integrating Traditional Healers into the Health Care System:Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Northern Ghana

Traditional medicine is widespread in Ghana, with 80% of Ghanaians relying on its methods for primary health care. This paper argues that integrating traditional and biomedical health systems expands the reach and improves outcomes of community health care. Moving beyond literature, it stresses the importance of trust-relationships between healers and biomedical staff. Insights are based on qualitative research conducted in Ghana’s Northern Region (2013–2014). Five challenges to integration emerged out of the data: a lack of understanding of traditional medicine, discrimination, high turnover of biomedical staff, declining interest in healing as a profession, and equipment scarcity. Besides challenges, opportunities for integration exist, including the extensive infrastructure of traditional medicine, openness to collaboration, and grassroots initiatives. Contemplating challenges and opportunities this paper provides recommendations for integration, including: identify/select healers, promote best practices, institute appropriate forms of appreciation/recognition of healers, provide aid and equipment, use communication campaigns to promote integration and steer attitudinal change towards healers among biomedical staff. Most crucial, we argue successful implementation of these recommendations depends on a concerted investment in relationships between healers and biomedical staff

ASSOCIATE FACTOR OF TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Trafficking in women and children is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of transfer, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor and it is known as a modern-day form of slavery. Trafficking violates all known standards of human rights and dignity of human. It violates the right to health, right to liberty, right to equality and security of person. This study examines those Social and environmental factors as Predictors of Trafficking in women and children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The study specifically examined the extent to which lack of basic needs and unemployment relates to Trafficking in women and children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. A review of literature was carried out according to variables of the study. The study adopts the rational choice theory. This study adopted the survey design is selecting 151 samples from Calabar which was the study area using the purposive and snowballing sampling technique the instrument of data collection is the questionnaire. Data obtained from the questionnaire were interpreted, using statistical tools such as tables, simple percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. Results revealed that Lack of basic needs significantly correlate with Trafficking in women and children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Results also revealed that there is a strong significant relationship between unemployment and Trafficking in women and children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The study recommends that the governments should make efforts towards the reduction of lack of basic amenities in the land. Skill acquisition should be promoted and small loans be made available for eligible persons amongst others. Article visualizations

Climate Variability and Rural Livelihood Security : Impacts and Implications

In a typical Nigerian village, the majority of the population comprises old people who are mostly economically unproductive due to reduced or loss of physical strength brought about by ageing and ill health. Many of these rural old people still work, and do so outside the formal sector, and are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate variability and change. Few studies have reported on climate change and the rural aged and there is a research gap as regards rural elderly peoples’ perception of climate variability impact on them. Since little is known about their perception of climate variability impacts and implications on the rural aged especially in relation to their livelihood activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, this chapter therefore examined the impact of climate variability on the livelihood security of the rural aged in different ecological zones of Nigeria. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews with four aged and four aged women selected purposively in each rural community and analyzed using Content Analysis Method. Quantitative data were obtained through structured questionnaire administered to an aged male and an aged female population available in selected houses (the aged are people 60 years and over in age) in selected rural communities in selected ecological zones of Nigeria. Where there was no combination of the two (aged men and aged women), either of the two was also sufficient. It was discovered that the ageds’ experiences of climate variability impact relate to the prevailing climate variability characteristic of each ecological zones. The impact on their livelihood in these zones is seen in terms of livestock death, lack of pastures for herds, scarcity of water, pest invasion, delayed planting crop failure, need for irrigation, water logging, drowning of small animals, human and animal illness. This means that planning decisions related to climate change issues should take cognizance of the views of the aged populations especially of those residing in rural areas as they are the most affected by the impact